MEADS students study in small-group classes.

MEADS Completes Five Years in Honduras

Take thirty pastors and key leaders from dynamic Christian churches in six nations, gather them in a rural retreat center for a week of study, worship, and fellowship, and you create a remarkable expression of community.

Repeat this gathering for five consecutive years, and you have an unforgettable experience. It was the recently completed Ministerial Education and Leadership Development Studies (MEADS) program hosted at La Buena Fe Campground in Honduras.

The pastors and key leaders represented Community of Christ congregations in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Most participants were bivocational ministers who took time from work to become better servants of Jesus Christ. Class topics included Community of Christ scriptures, history, worship, sacraments, administration, and theology. A broader study of Christian history, theology, spirituality, preaching, and biblical exegesis also was presented. Twelve classes were taught by eight World Church leaders during the week. The language of instruction was Spanish.

Before the final session, one student brought a special celebratory worship service hosted by the Villanueva, Honduras, congregation. More than 300 people participated. Student Mary Valdez of the Dominican Republic preached. The week ended with a Communion service, distribution of certificates, and a day of tourism in Honduras.

—Art Smith reporting